COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State is far from perfect.

On the very edge of the top 10 in the AP poll, with one loss weighing heavy on the team's playoff aspirations, the Buckeyes need to string together lopsided numbers against nearly every opponent to keep the dream of returning to a national championship game alive.

Even in the part of the schedule that is usually taken for granted to be easy wins by a fair number of fans, a relatively clear picture is being painted — Urban Meyer is steering Ohio State in the right direction.

All credit should not go to Meyer, as he is not the only one making big decisions and analyzing where the Buckeyes should attack each opponent. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and quarterbacks coach Ryan Day have made big strides in their first season with the offense and quarterback J.T. Barrett, while defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and assistant coordinator Kerry Coombs have made strides with a secondary that was blown apart in the first two games.

Still, the man at the center of it all — Meyer — is usually the one that comes to mind when things start looking up.

Over the last three weeks, that's exactly the way Ohio State appears to be going.